skip to content
Link to United States Department of Justice Home Page
United States Department of Justice Seal of the United States Department of Justice displayed against a background image of the U.S. flag
What We Do
bullet Combat Terrorism
bullet Apprehend Most-Wanted and Other Fugitives
bullet Locate Missing Persons
bullet Manage Prisons and Inmates
bullet Uphold Civil Rights & Liberties
bullet Uphold Disability Rights
bullet Operate Task Forces
bullet Help Victims of Crime
bullet Foster Safe Communities
bullet Combat Gang Violence
bullet Prevent Youth Violence
bullet Halt Domestic Violence
bullet Investigate Fraud
bullet Fight Trafficking in Persons
bullet Promote Dispute Resolution

Foster Safe Communities

Gun Violence Prevention

Project Safe Neighborhoods: America's Network Against Gun Violence. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nation-wide commitment to reduce gun crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing those programs with additional tools to be successful. Under Project Safe Neighborhoods, each United States Attorney will establish strategic partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in an intensive offensive against gun crime. The Bush Administration has committed $901 million to this effort over three years. This funding is being used to hire new federal and state prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, distribute gun lock safety kits, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop and promote community outreach efforts as well as to support other gun violence reduction strategies.

Statistics on firearms and crime are summarized and more detailed data are on the Bureau of Justice Statistics site.

Reducing Drugs in the Neighborhood

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) works with the Office of National Drug Control Policy to administer the Drug-Free Communities Support Program. Drug-Free Communities Grants fund coalitions of young people, parents, media, law enforcement, school officials, religious organizations, and other community representatives that target young people's use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. The coalitions also encourage citizen participation in substance abuse reduction efforts and disseminate information about effective programs.

Research reports on drugs and crime are found on the National Institute of Justice and National Criminal Justice Reference Service sites. Statistics on drugs and crime are summarized and more detailed data are offered on the Bureau of Justice Statistics site.

Each Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) field division has a special agent designated as the Demand Reduction Coordinator, whose role is to provide leadership and support to local agencies and organizations as they develop drug prevention and education programs. The DEA Demand Reduction Program stands out from other federal agency programs because it provides people - special agents and support staff - to promote drug prevention and education within the community. DEA Field Divisions. Publications.

Methamphetamine abuse has become a tremendous challenge for the entire Nation. Education, prevention, and community involvement are key parts of our National Strategy to reduce the demand for meth. People who know about the destructive effects of meth on the user and the community, are far less likely to use meth. Visit the Meth Awareness site.


Cops in the Neighborhood

Tackling Crime and Other Public Safety Problems This compilation of 48 short case studies illustrates how communities have successfully addressed a wide variety of persistent crime and disorder problems, including burglary, robbery, drug dealing, prostitution, auto theft, park crime and others using creative problem-solving techniques. Community members interested in tackling public safety problems in a new way will find this publication provides useful information.

The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office promotes community policing through hiring grants, promoting innovative approaches to solving crime, and through training and technical assistance to implement and sustain community policing.

Statistics on law enforcement officers and agencies are available on the Bureau of Justice Statistics site.

Community Revitalization

The Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO), assists communities around America as they seek to prevent crime, increase community safety, and revitalize neighborhoods. CCDO works with local communities to develop solutions that deter crime, promote economic growth, and enhance quality of life. Through training and technical assistance, CCDO helps communities to help themselves, enabling them to develop solutions to community safety problems confronting them, as well as developing the leadership to implement and sustain those solutions.

Weed and Seed is a community-driven strategic planning process that has demonstrated a positive impact on many communities as federal and local law enforcement agencies join forces, share resources, set common goals, partner with community groups, and work together to address troubled areas in neighborhoods. Communities work with U.S. Attorneys to develop a Weed and Seed strategy that involves "weeding out" criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse and "seeding" the areas with services linked to prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization. A community-oriented policing component bridges weeding and seeding strategies. More than 300 Weed and Seed sites operate across the country. For information about Weed and Seed, visit the Community Capacity Development Office Web site.

Cyber/Internet Safety

Children need guidance when using the Internet. Learn about Cyberethics for Kids at our Kidspage. Find Safety Tips for Kids on the Internet. The FBI also has a Parent's Guide to Internet Safety available on its site, in both English and Spanish.

How to report Internet-related crime.

Cyberstalking: A New Challenge for Law Enforcement and Industry
Appendix II contains tips on "How You Can Protect Against Cyberstalking" and "What to Do If You Are a Victim."

Reentry of Offenders into the Community

Nearly 650,000 people are released from incarceration yearly and arrive on the doorsteps of communities nationwide. The federal government, through the Office of Justice Programs, offers guidance and direction to communities as they prepare for ex-offenders going and staying home.

Community Outreach

Under the FBI's Community Outreach Program (COP), experienced FBI employees are assigned to serve as coordinators in each of the FBI's field offices nationwide. The coordinators serve on committees and boards of local and regional planning organizations for integrated, comprehensive, community-based prevention services for crime, drugs, and violence. They serve as speakers at crime prevention events, form partnerships with local and national organizations (such as Boys and Girls Clubs), and participate in school-based programs. For further information, contact the FBI Field Office nearest you.

Law Enforcement National Data Exchange (N-DEx)
N-DEx will provide law enforcement agencies with a powerful new investigative tool to search, link, analyze, and share criminal justice information such as incident/case reports, incarceration data, and parole/probation data on a national basis to a degree never before possible.

Kidnapping/Missing Persons

Statistics

The FBI's Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) provide extensive crime data on Arson, Assault Offenses, Bribery, Burglary, Counterfeiting/Forgery, Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property, Drug/Narcotic Offenses—Drug/Narcotic Violations and Drug Equipment Violations, Embezzlement, Extortion/Blackmail, Fraud Offenses, Gambling Offenses, Homicide Offenses, Kidnaping/Abduction, Larceny/Theft Offenses, Motor Vehicle Theft, Pornography/Obscene Material, Prostitution Offenses, Robbery, Sex Offenses, Stolen Property Offenses, and Weapon Law Violations

The UCR also provides arrest data for the following additional offense categories: Bad Checks, Curfew/Loitering/Vagrancy Violations, Disorderly Conduct, Driving Under the Influence, Drunkenness, Nonviolent Family Offenses, Liquor Law Violations, Peeping Tom, Runaway, Trespass of Real Property, and All Other Offenses.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), a component of the Office of Justice Programs, is a primary source for criminal justice statistics.

BJS collects, analyzes, publishes, and disseminates information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government. These data are critical to Federal, State, and local policymakers in combating crime and ensuring that justice is both efficient and evenhanded.

For more information about the Department components that are most active in this area, consult the Office of Justice Programs, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Community Oriented Policing Services Office (COPS) Web sites.




Contact Us   |   Accessibility   |   A-Z Index   |   Site Map  |   Archive   |   Privacy Policy  |   Legal Policies and Disclaimers
FOIA   |   For DOJ Employees   |   Other Government Resources   |   Office of the Inspector General   |   USA.gov   |   No FEAR Act